Interview with AIDS Delaware

Being that Delaware GLU plans on presenting Delaware's entire LGBT community with its respective news and events, we have a goal to interview the heads of the main LGBT oriented organizations and lgbt-owned businesses to later present you with that information.


This is the first of hopefully many mini-interviews to follow.
Also, to make things easy, everyone is asked the same 5 questions.


This is 5 Questions for AIDS Delaware:

1: Could you describe your position and a provide brief description of AIDS Delaware?

AIDS Delaware is the state's first and largest AIDS service organization. The agency started as an all-volunteer group serving people in the late stages of HIV/AIDS in the mid- to- late 80s. Today, the organization provides prevention services, testing, and case management. As the Executive Director, I am responsible for the day-to-day management of the organization and work closely with the Board of Directors to plan for the future.

2: What relevance or significance does AIDS DE have to the LGBT community?

HIV/AIDS was first discovered in the gay community. When AIDS Delaware was founded, its name was the Delaware Lesbian and Gay Health Advocates - most of its volunteers with LGBT, as were most of its clients. As the HIV epidemic grew and the virus began attacking other communities, the agency's Board of Directors made the difficult, controversial decision to change the agency's name to AIDS Delaware. The hope was that the new name would be MORE inclusive of all people. The agency has maintained strong ties to the LGBT community continues to advocate for equal rights for everyone.

3: Why did you decide to join AIDS Delaware?

I joined AIDS Delaware as an intern when I was completing my B.S. in Human Services at the University of Delaware. I really wanted to work with LGBT youth, and AIDS Delaware had a group specifically for that population. I quickly took an interest in administration and was fortunate to be offered full-time employment upon graduation. I have been with the agency ever since, holding several administrative positions prior to being promoted to Executive Director in October, 2008.

4: Is there something that the public often misconstrues about AIDS Delaware?

There are two conflicting misconceptions about AIDS Delaware in the public. Many people in the straight community see AIDS Delaware as a "gay" organization. This is based on both the agency's history and the still-strong but totally inaccurate idea that AIDS is gay disease. On the other hand, there are those that in the gay community who feel that agency doesn't do enough for LGBT people, and that the agency has tried to distance itself from the community. In reality, the Board of Directors and I are very committed to providing service for LGBT(QQIAA) people. We're also very committed to halting the spread of HIV in ALL communities.

5: Tell me one thing you know about AIDS DE that I wouldn't be able to find on the website?

AIDS Delaware's website (which we hope to revamp very soon!) does not mention a very recent collaborative effort we are working on. The agency has formed a partnership with Widener University to conduct a needs assessment of the LGBT community. We plan to do this in stages, first examining the needs of LGBT youth, focusing primarily on mental health needs. The results of the assessment will be used to build appropriate programming to address needs.

Thanks so much to John Klein, Executive Director of AIDS Delaware
If you have questions of your own, please visit their website here: AIDS Delaware